More AVR site representatives for Kaiseraugst
Simone Murielle Meier and Robert Gray will assist the current AVR site representatives, Rolf Baumgartner and Frank Schwarb, in Kaiseraugst.
As the only woman, Simone Murielle Meier is a particularly welcome addition to the newly formed team. Before joining Roche in 2004, she was a qualified business administrator with a company in the textiles trade and then worked in order processing at Lonza. After a placement in Paris and a post in the back office of a well-known employment agency, she came to Roche in Basel as a marketing assistant for Avastin. Since June 2015 she has been working for Pharma Informatics, Global Business Functions.
Simone Murielle Meier never had any doubts about joining the AVR. “Employees shouldn't be left to cope with problems alone. Those affected need to be able to turn to someone neutral for help, who will listen and help them find a solution,” she explains. Last year Simone Murielle Meier ventured to stand as a candidate for the post of site representative, with the aim of taking an active role in the AVR. She now joins the Kaiseraugst site. As someone who particularly enjoys direct personal interaction, she would like to focus more on representing the interests of assistants.
Simone Murielle Meier greatly values further training and is currently taking courses in the social sciences and psychology. In her leisure time, she explores the fascinating world of perfume and enjoys playing table tennis. When Pharma IT moves this year, she is looking forward to some matches in Kaiseraugst.
The AVR Committee is pleased to see its average age reduced by the addition of Robert Gray, who has joined the AVR as a site representative. After studying law, Robert Gray gained professional experience as a Global Contract Manager with IBM Switzerland in Zurich before moving to Basel to join Roche at the end of 2012. He works in Global IT Procurement here.
Robert Gray soon decided to become a member of the AVR and regularly took an interest in the various activities arranged for and with employees. He feels at home as a site representative in the AVR, because he can make use of his legal knowledge and put his experience of negotiation and discussion into practice. “Supporting also means examining the situation critically. We can be effective only if we have an objective point of view and know the whole truth,” says Robert Gray with conviction.
As an AVR Committee member, he would also like to help expand the services and discounts on offer, in order to encourage better integration of Roche employees and retirees in Basel and the surrounding area.
Robert Gray comes from an international background and grew up in Basel speaking two languages (English and German). This enables him to understand and represent the interests of both “local” and “non-local” people.
Robert Gray describes himself as “very open minded and approachable”. In his free time he is to be found in good Basel restaurants sampling tasty dishes, when he is not pursuing his passion for football as president of the Basel football club FC Telegraph or travelling to faraway destinations.